Gage for shoe-soles



(No Model.)

T. A. BRESNAHAN. GAGE FOR SHOE SOLES.

No. 451,363. Patented Apr. 28, 1891.

I fizz/e22 02.

W fi'zwofydmsmia fig? we Nannls ruins cu. PHOYLTLIYNQ, WASNIN uuuuuuu cUNITED STATES ATENT FFICE,

GAGE FOR SHOE-SOLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,363, dated April28, 1891.

Application filed October 21, 1890.

T0 (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY A. BRESNA- HAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gages forDesignating the Thickness of Soles of Manufactured Boots or Shoes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for ascertaining or determining thethickness of soles upon boots or shoes, and the purpose thereof is toprovide what may be termed an edgegage, which shall correspond withsubstantial accuracy with the cutters 0r planes used in shoe-factoriesin finishing the edges of the soles.

It is the especial purpose of this invention to provide a simple andinexpensive device whereby retail dealers may be enabled to pick out orselect stock of the thickness or size of the sole when finished which isparticularly adapted to their trade, whereby in ordering stock from theWholesale dealer they need only specify the different grades by thenumbers upon said device, which numbers correspond to the severaldegrees of thickness of the sole of the boot or shoe, as indicated bythe standard measurement or gages of soles used in the factories.

My invention consists, to this end, in the novel article having theseveral features of construction hereinafter fully set forth, and thendefinitely pointed out in the claims following this specification.

To enable others to understand and use my said invention, I will proceedto describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a face View of the gage-plate embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a View showing the opposite side of thegage-plate and illustrating the method of using said gage-plate indetermining the thickness of the sole.

Heretofore and prior to my invention gages have been made by which thesoles could be measured when separated from the unfinished boot or shoeand before they have been applied thereto; but I am not aware of any in-Serial No. 368,840. (No model.)

strument by which the gaging of the sole can be practically effectedboth before and after the shoe is finished, whereby the retail dealermay order the exact quality of stock from the wholesalers best adaptedto his trade. Heretofore, also, gages have been made consisting of aflat plate or rule having a series of open rectangular notches ofvarious width, but the sizes measured thereby did not correspond withthose produced by the cutters or planes, and the application of thisgage to the edge of the sole after the latter was applied to the shoewould be impracticable, for the reason that the upper would interferewith the necessary adjustment, and for the further reason that abeveledsole cannot underany circumstances be properly, conveniently, oraccurately measured. To avoid these objections and to place in the handsof all retail dealers a simple, inexpensive, and accurate gage wherebythe purposes desired may be accomplished, I provide a gage composed of afiat plate 1, formed of metal, papier-mach, hard rubber, zylonite, orother pyroxiline compound, or even heavy card-board, said plate being ofany desired width and of such length as to receive upon its edges thegaging serrations hereinafter described. Upon the opposite edges of saidplate, which may be parallel or converging, are formed two series ofserrations, (designated by the numerals 2 and 3,) the former beginningat one end of the plate and proceeding toward the other end, theserrations increasingv in depth by a regular gradation toward theopposite end of the gage-plate, and being each numbered or designated bya charactercorresponding with or denoting the size or thickness of thesole produced by the corresponding size of edge-trimmer used in thefactory. Upon the opposite side of said plate is formed a further seriesof similarly-shaped serrations having a regulated increase in depth andcut atthe same angle with those already described, each beingdistinguished by a separate number or character, like those alreadydescribed, the designating-numbers running from 5 to 24, inclusive. Theserrations described are all formed upon the same angle, but ofsuccessively-increasing depth. This angle of for mation is somewhatgreater than ninety degrees, and the method of ascertaining themeasurement of the sole is clearly shown in Fig. 2, wherein thepossibility of measuring the thickness of soles of all kinds is readilyapparent.

In those cases where a dealer finds that his customers prefer shoeshaving a heavier or lighter sole, he will order such stock as herequires, designating the same by the numerals upon the serrations ofthe gage. As all shoe-factories use the standard measurement ofthickness or gage of the soles indicated by the numerals upon thegage-plate, the order cannot be mistaken by the wholesaler. 'lheserrations of the gage-plate increase from the smallest to the largestby a ratio of one fortyeighth of an inch, and are each formed in themanner shownto wit, by cuts of increasing depth, as described, formed atan angle with the longitudinal line of the plate, whereby the oppositeedges of each scrration meet at a point. By this construction, as shownin by which the size or thickness of the sole may be readily andaccurately ascertained either before or after said sole is applied tothe shoe 'or boot.

Vhat I claim is 1. A gage plate. for retail boot and shoe dealers,consisting of a ilat plate having upon its edges one or more series ofserrations having an increasing depth, each being designated by anumeral corresponding, With that denoting the edge-trimmer forming saidsole, substantially as described.

2. A gage-plate for retail boot and shoe dealers, consisting of a fiatmetallic plate or strip having upon the edges serrations which increasein depth and width throughout the entire series, said serrations beingeach designated by a numeral or character corresponding with thestandard gage of soles used in the factories, the said serrations havingedges formed at an angle with the longitudinal line of the plate andmeeting in points, substantiall y as described.

In testimony whereof I have al'lixed my sig nature in presence of twowitnesses.

TIMOTHY A. BRESNAHAN.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY .T. BOWEN, HERBERT G. MERRILL.

